Baby walker



Nov. 13,` 1951 L.. TANTlMoNAco BABY WALKER Filed May 2. 1947 L EO/VRDO T10/V WMO/YA) CQ Patented Nov. 13, 1951 BABY WALKER Leonardo-Tantimonaco, West Haven, Conn.

ApplicationvMayiZ, 1947, SrialNo'. '745,371'

Thisinvention relates to; a;baby walker, and moreparticularlyto'a device adapted to support a toddlinginfant, or an infant just learning to walk, in upright position, in such manner as to facilitate Vthe progress of the infant in learning to walk'.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of an improved babywalker characterized by means for comfortably and .expeditiously supporting vthefinfant in upright position by means of` an annular ring adapted to be engagedbeneath the armpits of the infant.

A-:further object of the invention `is the provision of a device of this character provided with a relatively wide annular band depending from the supporting Aannulus in such manner as to provide protection toadjacent parts of the infants body.

Still another objectof the invention is the provision vof such a device characterized by a relatively wide, outwardly flared annular lower rim carrying casters, vthe lower rim beingprovided with a' relatively'soft' bumper, as for example, of

rubber, whereby the marring of furniture or the like' by the impact ofthe Vdevice inthe infants travels islprecluded.

Other objects -,will in` part be obvious `-and in part be pointed -outas the-description of the iinve'ntion proceeds, and shown-inthe accompanying drawingswhereinthere isdisclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan viewof one form of device embodying features of the -iristant invention, certain concealedportions thereofl being indicated in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the structure shown in Figure 1, certain concealed portions thereof being indicated by dotted lines.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially along the line 3 3 of Figure 1, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view, partially broken away, taken substantially along the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 5--5 of Figure l.

Figure 6 is a section similar to that shown in Figure 3, illustrating a modification, wherein the body-contacting resilient member is filled with sponge rubber.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

3 `ClaimsN (Cl. 155-24) prised of an upper annulus or ring,'generally vin` dicatedxat` IQ, of any suitable material, such asv wood or the like, from which extends a plurality of spokes,.each generally indicated at I I, and each -being y.comprised of a vertical section I2 mergingl into anoutwardly ared section I3, and terminatingin a lower verticalfsection t4, the vlower section beingl seated in a relatively wide annulus generally indicated at I5.

Referringiirstto annulus I0, it will be seen, as

best shown in Figure l3, that in cross sectional view the outer portionis generallyl rounded, as shown at it, while the inner portion is provided with a rabbet H in its upper face, the rabbet being adapted to accommodate, in flush relation, the ends I8 of a resilient and iiexiblehand member I9, adapted to surround the interior of the device.

The band I9, as shown in Figure 3, is formed of a tube of rubber or the like, and may be provided with an interior opening 2U that may be lled with air at any suitable pressure, providing a relatively soft cushion protecting the body of the child. The ends I8 are adapted to be-'secured `to the annulus .It by means of tacks or pins 2 I.

Each of the vertical portions I2 of spokes II isl provided at its upper extremity with a threaded boreadapted to accommodatea screw 22 seated in al suitable `recess in the rannulus IG, the head` of each screw22 being countersunk, and a plug 23 being Iprovided to form a substantially ush upper surface of the annulus I0 in order to preclude the possibility ofY injury to the infant due to Iany irregularities thereon.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 3, a lower guard ring 25 of any desired material is provided at the bend of the spokes I I to serve as a retaining ring.

As best shown in Figure 4, the lower vertical portions I4 of the spokes II have inset therein a pin 2B adapted to seat and be suitably secured in a suitable recess in lower annulus I5, thus securing the parts in related assembly.

As seen in Figures 4 and 5, annulus I5 is provided about its outer periphery with a groove or channel 2B adapted to engage a rim 29 forming a component portion of an annular ring 30 comprised of hard rubber or similar resilient. nonmarring material.

The lower portion of the annulus I5 is provide at suitable spaced intervals about its periphery with rotatable caster wheels 3I set in suitable brackets 32, both of the latter being of any desired conventional design.

The flexible band member I9, as shown in Fig- 'Ihe device of the instant invention is com- 66 ures 2 and 3, is provided with a valve 33 with an extending tube 34 and bulb 35, and by use of the bulb the member I9 may be inflated to any desired pressure. The internal area of the member is regulated and adjusted by the air pressure, as by increasing the pressure, the member may be enlarged similar to the inner tube of a tire, wherein the size of the device is adjustable to comfortably accommodate the size of the child. The lower surface of the annulus I is provided with a spring clip 36 for holding the bulb out of reach of the child.

The -band member may also be made as illustrated in Figure 6, wherein it is formed of fabric 31 and lled with sponge rubber, or the like, 38. In this design, the edges of the fabric are gummed in a recess 39 in the upper surface of a ring 40 similar to the annulus I0, and it will be understood that the parts may be secured together by any means.

It will also be understood that the lower edge of the band member l0 may be provided with tabs 4I by which it may be secured to the spokes Il by snaps 42, as shown in Figure 3.

From the foregoing, it will now be seen that the baby walker of the instant invention provides an improved device of this character including an upper annulus and a guard rim therewithinprecluding possible injury to the infant, the upper annulus having a substantially flush, smooth upper surface, which is readily adapted to be moved in any direction by the infant, and which is provided with a lower guard rim, the outer extremity of which provides the only contacting point for the walker, and which is of resilient material, thus precluding the damaging or marring of any article struck by the walker while the infant is utilizing the same.

It will also be seen that there is herein provided a construction of this character which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Obviously, the device may be constructed of any desired material, such as plastic, wood, metal, or the like, and equally obviously may be decorated in any desired manner and in any suitable coloration.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, in

combination, an annulus having a plurality of apertures therein, screws countersunk in said apertures, depending spokes outwardly flared radially of said annulus and secured thereto by said screws, plugs over the heads of said screws to present a substantially flush upper surface on said annulus, a second annulus secured to the lower extremities of said spokes, rotatable caster wheels carried by the under side of said second annulus, a peripheral bumper surrounding said second annulus,'the inner periphery of said first-mentioned annulus being rabbeted, and a guard band of flexible resilient material having its ends seated in the rabbet and depending from the vinner periphery of said first-mentioned annulus.

l 2. In a baby Walker, the combination, which comprisesV a tubular body-contacting air inflatable cushion, a concentric ring upon which said cushion is mounted, depending outwardly extending arms on the under surface of said ring, a lower bumper annulus concentric with said cushion and ring connecting the outer lower ends of said arms, and a manually-actuated bulb attached to said cushion for inlating the cushion. 3. In a baby walker, a mobile frame including a pair of spaced horizontally disposed annuli arranged in superimposed concentric relation with respect to each other, a tubular body contacting air inflatable cushion including an air inlet disposed within the upper one of said annuli and supported therein, and hand actuable inflating means disposed exteriorly of said cushion and in communication with the inlet thereof for iniiating said cushion.

LEONARDO TAN TIMON ACO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATE-NTS Number Name Date 16,150 Robbins Dec. 2, 1856 432,378 Davidson et al July 15, 1890 676,634 Sloan June 18, 1901 918,391 Taarud Apr. 13, 1909 1,530,405 Perrine Mar. 17, 1924 1,826,502 Brown Oct. 6, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 166,730 Switzerland Apr. 2, 1934 418,595 Great Britain Oct. 29, 1934 

